Sambhar

Sambhar - This is like the mom of the house. Always taken for granted :). But there is nothing else that makes a dish tastier like sambhar ;). Be it idli , dosa , vada , pongal , upma , rice etc etc. Even curd rice tastes better when a little sambhar is added to it :) . These dishes are not complete without sambhar.

A lot of vegetables can be added to sambhar. Some examples are Brinjal(Egg plant) , Drumsticks , white pumpkin, sambhar cucumber, radish, potato, beans, carrot etc.

From my personal experience brinjal and drumsticks sambhar is the best tasting sambhar. No matter what vegetable you add to the sambhar, just add one drumstick(cut into finger size) in that. The sambhar will dramatically taste a lot better.

In US, getting fresh drumsticks is not possible. SO I always keep a frozen bag of drumsticks.Whenever I make sambhar, I just thaw a few pieces of drumstick and add them to the vegetables.

Ingredients:
Tour dal - 1/2 cup
Turmeric Powder - a pinch
garlic - 3 pods
Onion - few pearl onions or 1/2 big onion
Tomato - 1 large
Vegetables - one or more of the given vegetables cut into 1 inch pieces.
Drumstick - 1 (cut into finger sized pieces)
sambhar powder - 1 heaped teaspoon
chilli powder - 1/4 teaspoon(optional)
salt - as per taste
tamarind - 1 level teaspoon paste or 1 big goosebery size ball.

For seasoning:
mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
curry leaves - 1 sprig
asafoetida powder - 1/4 teaspoon
coriander leaves for garnishing  - few

Preparation:

1. Pressure cook dal with the turmeric powder and garlic.
2. Mash the dal and keep it aside. 
3. Cut big onion into slices. If the pearl onions are very big, then you might have to cut them into two.
4. Cut tomato into chunks.
5. In a sauce pan, add onions, tomato , vegetables.Add 1 cup of water, salt and sambhar powder.Add chilli powder if you are using. I do not use chilli powder as the sambhar powder I use has enough spice in it.
6. Let it cook for few minutes. Once the vegetables are half cooked, add the mashed dal, mix it well and add the tamarind water or paste.Add little more water if required.
7. Let it boil in medium heat. Let the vegetables cook thoroughly.
8. It will take around 20 minutes(depending on the veggies) for it to be done.
9. Once the vegetables are cooked and soft, put off the flame.
10. In a kadai, heat some oil and add mustard seeds,asafoetida powder,curry leaves.
11. Stir them and add to the sambhar.
12. Then add freshly chopped coriander leaves on top for garnishing.
13. Mix it with hot steamed rice and ghee(optional) and enjoy it.

Notes:

• Adding garlic while cooking dal is supposed to remove the gas from the dal.
• Double check while adding tamarind water. Add a little, taste and then add more if required.
• I use Sakthi sambhar powder.